Need some help matching an F7 to other brand Passenger Cars

[FloridaBob]

Hi-

In the midst of building a rather ornate but complex, small, n scale layout and control panel.  
(Old style, DC only because I have a pretty big box full of older N gear)

My outside loop will have curves that can only be 11 radius and I want to run a passenger line on same.

I kinda hate it when I see long passenger cars hanging way out when turning
so I figured it's best to go with 60 footers.

With that said, I like the looks of the Atlas 5-car Trainman Series and especially the Rio Grande.
Problem is, Atlas doesn't make an F7 style diesel to match same, (as far as I know.) I love the look
of the old ALCO style diesels with passenger cars.

That leaves me trying to find an F7 A or A/B from another manufacturer. THEN, 
I have to consider color matching engine with cars. 

I see KATO has one, I think Intermountain and I'm thinking I saw an older Life-Like.

Sight unseen, to compare colors of cars vs engine, leaves me scratchin' my head and was
hoping someone may know or have an idea what's closest in color scheme?

Any help or thoughts appreciated AND ALSO.......are there light kits for those 60' ATLAS Trainman Passenger Cars?

Well, hopefully someone might have an idea or even point me toward OTHER 60' passenger cars
that would indeed have a matching color engine.

THANKS!

[doctorwayne]

to the MR Forums, Bob!

I'm afraid that my knowledge of what's available in N scale is rather sparse, but if you're thinking about a specific railroad's paint scheme, you may have difficulty matching the paint colours if you're buying products from different manufacturers - some may match well, and others perhaps not at all. 
It is, however, possible to strip and repaint locomotives and rolling stock, and in many cases, also re-letter it to suit your needs.
 
Hopefully, my reply will bump this back to the top, and perhaps generate some more replies from modellers more familiar with N scale and the items which you're seeking.

Sorry that I can't be of more assistance.

Wayne

[SPSOT fan]

First  to the MR forums. Hope you stick around!

A quick look a Walther.com revealed that Kato makes a PA in the same scheme as the Atlas Heavyweights of Rio Grande. I'd go for that, Kato aren't the most detailed but always run very well. The color may not match, but at least they will be in the correct scheme. Intermountain also has an F7 (which FYI is an EMD product, not an ALCo).

Either of these should work, and I dought the colors will vary heavily, Rio Grande is a common railroad that manufacturer don't usually get wrong. Since I model the NP I often see their paint scheme done wrong, and can tell you that you can tell when the paint is wrong! The pictures I've seen of the afore mention models all looks okay to me though.

Good luck in you accusitions!

[FloridaBob]

Thanks for your thoughts Wayne. Kinda figured same.

[FloridaBob]

Thanks for taking the time to peek and comment SPSOT. Appreciated.

My bad on Alco. I guess I was thinking about another, maybe Sante Fe.

Anyway, yes, may have to see both and maybe others up close to find the least of all evils.

Thanks for your time and consideration, Bob

[BRAKIE]

The Kato PA would be your best choice since they are smooth runners.Aviod the Atlas EMD E8 from the 60s.The motor wasn't the best and didn't last long.

If you can find them Kato made a  Rio Grande passenger color EMD F3 A/B set..

[FloridaBob]

10-4 Larry, thanks for the tip. '-)

[FloridaBob]

Thanks Brakie

Since I'm new here I guess my thank you replies to ALL haven't yet appeared.

Anyway...yes Brakie...actually saw the F3 but thought they were a little TOO yellow if ya know what I mean. 

I'm not thinkin' maybe if I went with a black emd with yellow stripes it wouldn't be as noticeable not matching the passenger car colors.

I saw one A/B by whom I believe was Micro-Trains but still the stripes are more orange than yellowish.

Oh well, I'll keep looking around or maybe change the plan completely. I just wish Atlas offered engines that actually matched those trainman 60's...never ends. :)

[Boiler-man]

When I was a young boy I lived near the UP tracks and can remember the F-Units and yellow passenger cars did not all have matching yellow paint some were lighter and some were darker. I think the miss match may have been from the UP procuring cars from other roads and repainting them in there repair shops?

[BRAKIE]

FloridaBob

Oh well, I'll keep looking around or maybe change the plan completely. I just wish Atlas offered engines that actually matched those trainman 60's...never ends. :)

No it doesn't..Always a minor flob some where and some times these flobs are caused by the prototype.. 

Eons ago I learned we modelers can be more picky then the real railroads. When modeling the C&O I found out some B&O engines used C&O enchantment blue only because they was ex-C&O Locomotives that simply because  the "C" was replaced by "B". You can tell these engines because they retain their C&O looks and numbers and the Capitol dome is on the short hood instead of the long hood. 

How did this come about?

When the C&O took control of the B&O the C&O sent several engines to shore up B&Os ailing locomotive fleet. 

When I started adding Chessie locomotives the fun really began because one number would be C&O and the following engine number could be lettered B&O! The Chessie roads wasn't merged either!